Heel support



' Sept. 21 1926.

. 1,600,329 J. FENTON HEEL SUPPORT Filed 001;. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. FENTON Sept; 21 1926.

HEEL SUPPORT Filed Oct. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c- If Patented Sept. 21, 1926. -l'-,600-,-3Z9

UNITED STATES PAZITENT oFFicE.

JOHN FENTON, F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SELBY SHOE CO., OF PORTS- MOUTH, OHIO. i

HEEL surroar.

Application flled October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,436.

Nature has decreed that man shall walk Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but 55 upright on a flat surface and shall maintain showing the completed heel portion. a proper center of gravity to insure equi- Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view librium or poise. I have found that this through a complete shoe illustrating the im-- 6 center of gravity extends perpendicularly proved heel-supporting means in elevation.

from the point at the front end of the heel Figure 5 is a perspective view of the heel- 60 bone to the center of the head at a point besupporting means separate from the shoe. tween the ears. When we stand upright Figure 6 is a transverse sectional. view on upon normal feet, without shoes and in a line 6-6 of Fig. 5. 1 1 natural position, we rest on two weight bear'-- Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing 1'e ing points, the ball and heel, and there is spectively the incorrect and correct poise 65 perfect comfort to the body. However, of the body. y when we elevate only the posterior part of A ladys shoe has been shown having a the feet by wearingshoes having heels, we comparatively high heel H, and to preventl5 distort the correct poise of the body, the any of the troubles above referred to or toknees are bent forwardly to maintain equi-- Correct such troublesif they exist, the sole 7 librium, and an undue strain is placed upon structure S of the shoe is specially made,;acthe muscles of the feet, legs or back. These cording to my invention. This sole strucmuscles weaken and fail to supply the necture includes the usual inner. sole I, and I essary strength. Thus, the bony structure provide the heel portion of this lnner sole of the foot is allowed to extend to an unwith laterally spacedlongitudinally ldis- .75. natural length, resulting in numerous forms posed abutments 10 and 11, between which of foot, knee and quite a numberof hip and lies the portion of the heel directly underpelvic troubles. These troubles in many lying the heel bone B. The abutments 10 cases can be prevented by the wearing of and 11 are offset longitudinally with reshoes with heels that will restore to the body spect to each other and, their heel-engaging 0 the equilibrium lost'by the addition of elesurfaces converge downwardly and are lonvated h el gitu'dinally curved, so that the front por-- It is the primary object of my invention tions of said abutments diverge forwardly to provide a-shoe having an improved conand .the rear portions thereofsimil-arly di struction which will enable .a normal foot verge in a rearward direction. 'The abut- 85 to function correctly when walking and rement 11 is adapted toengage the outer rear tain its natural poise, and not only prevent portion of the heel andthe abutment 10 enany troubles caused by incorrect poise of gages the inner forward portion of the heel. the body, but in addition, will correct many In this connection, 1t may be stated that the troubles now existing which are caused by shoeherem disclosed 1s for the leftfoot and 90 the wearing of shoes with various heights the method disclosed is for the. construction of heels, by restoring the body to the correct of this left shoe, 1t be ng understood that center of gravity, thereby reducing the the relatlon of parts 1s reversed for the strain on the muscles, enabling the ligaments right shoe".

.to remain at or contract to their normal The heel portion of the. sole is substan' 95 lengths, and'restoring the foot bones to their ti-ally flat, with the exception of the abut: .normal relative positions. ments '10 and 11 and by relating these abut- ,With the foregoing in view, the invention ments and shapmg them n the manner d13- resides in the novel subject matter hereinclosed, a somewhat oblique, flat-bottomed after described and clalmed, the descrip channel 12-is formed for the reception of 109 I tion being supplemented by the accompanythe users heel, and the heel is so snugly rein drawings. Y cived in vthls channel, betweenthe abut- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a last ments 10 and 11, that correct poise to the prepared for shaping-of the heel-supportbody is insured, as well as preventing any in portion of-theshoe. of the troubles above enumerated, and servigure-2 -'s a.-perspect1 ve..v1ew showing one ing to correct such troubles should they ex- I Ste n the production-of the heel portion of ist, before wearing of the lmproved shoe.

41,508 a i In the manufacture of the shoe,Ixmake' 15 propriate fillers 18 and 19, formed of layers of leather or other desired material, or

other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. I then secure a piece of leather or other desired material upon the last, such material covering the heel portion of said last and the contiguous shank portion, and I skive v the front end of this piece of material .to a

. the fillers 18 and 19,'form the Y Q body when no .in the ordinary feather edge. At 16 and 17, I depress the material into the recesses 13 and 14 respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Then, ap-

formed each in one piece if desired, are secured, in the depressions formed in the piece of material 15, by depression of the latter into the recesses 13 .and 14. In the present showing, the fillers 18 and 19 are formed of a plurality of plies of leather or the like having their edge portions suitably skived, said plies being secured in the recesses of the piece of material 15, by tacks 20. After securing of the fillers 18 and 19, the lower surface of the unit formed by them and the piece of material 15, is given a substantially flat form as indicated by the shading in Fig. 3, although the forward tip 21 of this unit, curves to lsome extent along the shankportion of the est. 4

. After .performing the operations above described, the inner sole may be secured upon the unit 1518-1921, and after this, the shoe may be completed in the usual manner. In the completed shoe, the piece of material 15 constitutes the heel-engaging surface at the rear portion of said shoe, and the bowed portions 16 and 17, together with abutments 10 and 11. Preferably, a lining (not shown) is provided over the entire surface of the improved sole, but may be omitted if desired.

While the method steps above described are preferably followed, it will be understood that other methods could be used for the production of the invention. Moreover, while the heel supporting unit disclosed in Fig. 5 is preferably built into the shoe as described, it may if desired be manufactured as a separate article or insert, to be secured shoe. In either case, the heel will be effectively and comfortably supported and the body will thus be maintained in true poise. In this connection. it. may bestated that Fig. 8 discloses in a diagrammatic manner,

shoes are worn, whereas Fig.

the-true poise of the human of course be made.

I claim 1. An inner sole member provided on the upper side of its heel portion with a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally disposed abutments between which lies the portion of" the wearers heel directly underlying the heel bone, said abutments being longitudinally offset from each other, positioning the outer abutment to engage the outer rear portion of the heel and disposing the inner abutment to engage the inner front portion of the heel.

2. An inner sole member provided on the upper side of its heel portion with apair of laterally spaced longitudinally disposed abutments between which lies the portion of the wearers heel directly underlying the heel bone.- said abutments being longitudinally offset from each other, positioning the outer abutment to engage the outer rear portion of the heel abutment to engage of the heel, said abutments having longitudinally curved which converge downwardly but diverge from their intermediate portions to their front and rear ends.

3. An inner sole member provided on the upper side of its heel portion with a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally disposed abutments between which lies the portion of the wearers heel directly underlying the heel bone, said abutments being longitudinally offset from each other, positioning the outer abutment to engage the outer rear portion of the heel and disposing the inner abutment to engage the inner front portion of the heel, said abutments having longitudinally curved heel-engaging surfaces which converge downwardly but diverge from their intermediate portions to their front and rear ends, said heel portion of the sole being substantially flat with the exception of said abutments.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

and disposing the inner JOHN FENIQN'.

heel-engaging surfaces the inner front portion 

